Aviation Security (Hansard, 8 November 2001)

§ Lord Janner of Braunstone
asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will conduct an inquiry into measures necessary to prevent hijacking of passenger aircraft.

§ The Minister of State, Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (Lord Falconer of Thoroton)
My Lords, we already have measures in place to deter the hijacking of passenger aircraft. They were substantially enhanced on 11th September. An urgent and wide-ranging review of aviation security measures is under way which is looking at ways to improve aviation security including the methods used by the terrorist.

§ Lord Janner of Braunstone
My Lords, does my noble and learned friend accept that the danger of hijacking sadly remains a great one for passengers on civilian aircraft? In the circumstances, will he ensure that everything is done to speed up the measures to which he has referred and to ensure the inclusion of three additional ones: first, the installation of CCTV on flight decks; secondly, the introduction of electronic passenger blacklisting; and thirdly, and most importantly, that on all appropriate flights British airlines should have "skymarshals" in the same way as certain other airlines do?

§ Lord Falconer of Thoroton
My Lords, I agree that there is a serious threat. Everything that can be done should be done. As I indicated, on 11th September measures were increased at British airports and in relation to aircraft in order to increase aviation 303 security. For security reasons it would not be appropriate for me to say what the specific measures were. However, in addition a committee of officials has been set up which reports to the Home Secretary and it is looking urgently at what further measures should be introduced. It is considering all the measures referred to by the noble Lord and it will report as quickly as possible.

§ Viscount Astor
My Lords, first, can the Minister tell the House when he expects the Civil Aviation Authority to issue any guidance to the airlines? It is now two months since the dreadful incident and no guidance from the CAA has been given to the airlines on what steps they should take. Secondly, as I am sure the noble and learned Lord is aware, from today the Government are to charge airlines for the cost of third-party, war and terrorism risks. That cost could be up to £50 million a year, which is a new revenue that the Government will receive. Will the noble and learned Lord consider altering some of the other charges that the Government levy on passengers so that the airlines do not suffer a loss of revenue in these very difficult times?

§ Lord Falconer of Thoroton
My Lords, as to the issuance of guidance by the CAA, that body is independent. However, the CAA is involved in the working parties which are looking at a range of measures that can be introduced. We should do it as quickly as possible, but we should not rush into things that could cause more difficulties than initially we thought might be the case. As to charges, there are no immediate plans to review them.

§ Lord Tebbit
My Lords, does the Minister agree that, important as it is to attempt to defend each of the points at which terrorists may strike, one can never be totally effective? Does he also agree that it is at least as important, if not more so, to strike at the roots of terrorism from whence those attacks are organised?

§ Lord Falconer of Thoroton
My Lords, I entirely agree with both parts of the question. We shall do all that we can to improve security. The noble Lord is right that one can never provide complete security. Of the greatest importance is to attack the roots of the terrorists who caused the events of 11th September.

§ Lord Hunt of Chesterton
My Lords, does the Minister agree that air travel is still one of the safest forms of transport and that he should do everything he can to encourage people to bear in mind the risks but realise that there are dangers in many other things that they do, particularly as regards other modes of transport?

§ Lord Falconer of Thoroton
My Lords, aviation is a very safe form of travel, but that is no reason not to continue to take measures and to do such investigations as are appropriate to ensure that safety improves even further.

§ Lord Davies of Coity
My Lords, will my noble and learned friend acknowledge that prior to 11th September the approach taken in civil aviation was that aircrew would obey the instructions of hijackers, calm the passengers, try to land the aircraft and allow negotiations to take place? Will my noble and learned friend also give an assurance to the House that since 11th September that kind of approach is being discouraged?

§ Lord Falconer of Thoroton
My Lords, one of the matters that is being considered is the training to be given to aircrew in the light of the events of 11th September. The last thing in the world that I should do is to say how aircrew should behave in individual cases. The correct course is to look very carefully at the right approach and, once the matter has been properly thought through, give guidance.

§ The Lord Bishop of Hereford
My Lords, can the Minister assure the House that low-cost airlines, whose whole philosophy is based on cutting costs, will be required to observe security standards which are every bit as strict as those which apply to state carriers?

§ Lord Falconer of Thoroton
My Lords, the requirements of aviation security both in relation to getting passengers on to aircraft and what happens when they are on board will be applied across the board. Of course different rules will apply to different aircraft as they are not all the same size, but the rules will apply to all airlines.

Lord Acton
My Lords, is my noble and learned friend aware that when a passenger arrives at the home airport of my American wife, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, for an internal US flight he must show photographic identity both at the check-in and the departure gate? Is the Minister also aware that at the said airport spot checks are made of suitcases to be loaded into the hold? Further, is my noble and learned friend aware that last month my luggage, which was going to Chicago, provided great fun to a young lady who sniffed all the bottles and looked at all the books, no doubt to discover whether among them was the autobiography of the noble Lord, Lord Peyton of Yeovil?

§ Lord Falconer of Thoroton
My Lords, I was not aware of the specific events at the airport described by my noble friend. However, I am aware that security measures have been substantially enhanced at all American airports following the attack on 11th September.

§ Baroness Trumpington
My Lords, do security checks include baggage handlers?

§ Lord Falconer of Thoroton
My Lords, one of the matters that is being looked at by the team of officials is what checks need to be made on those who work right throughout the airport, in particular those who 305 have access to restricted areas. That is a very important aspect of what is being looked at by the committee at the moment.